Get Set for ‘26
Get study ready in a day!
Whether you’ve already applied to study with us in 2026, you’re in the process of applying, or you’re just looking at your options, come along to Get Set for ‘26 and we’ll help you get sorted. Then you can kick back, enjoy summer and hit the ground running when your course starts next year!
🧾 Get it sorted
- Application assistance
- ID verification
- Portfolio pre-approval
- Course-specific workshops
- Subject-specific tours
- Study-Ready workshops
- Student finance
- Budgeting advice
- PPE familiarisation
- Pathway guidance
- Student life information
💡 Discover great student hacks
- Where to park
- Best coffee
- Low-cost lunch & dinner ideas
- On-campus deals (haircuts, beauty treatments, massage and more!)
💬 Talk with our guests
- StudyLink
- Budget Advisors
- Youth Services
🎉 Score some free stuff
- Free kai
- Prize draws
- Giveaways
City campus schedule
Wednesday 3 December
10:00am
General
How to apply workshop (15-20 mins)
This workshop walks you through the full application process - from hitting “apply” to what happens behind the scenes, plus how to make sure your place at Ara is confirmed.
This workshop walks you through the full application process - from hitting “apply” to what happens behind the scenes, plus how to make sure your place at Ara is confirmed.
Academic
Engineering pathways info session
10:30am
General
Student life hacks
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Get Set
Campus tour
11:00am
Get Ready
Ara Pacific
Come along to the Pacific workshop to meet our Pacific staff and learn about the support available through Pacific Student Support, Learning Services, the Pacific Success team, and PISA - our student-led Pacific community.We’ll also introduce you to Pacific Trades Training (PTT), a programme that blends trades training with cultural identity, mentorship and a strong sense of community.
Come along to the Pacific workshop to meet our Pacific staff and learn about the support available through Pacific Student Support, Learning Services, the Pacific Success team, and PISA - our student-led Pacific community.We’ll also introduce you to Pacific Trades Training (PTT), a programme that blends trades training with cultural identity, mentorship and a strong sense of community.
Academic
Construction Management info session
11:30am
Get Set
Campus tour
Academic
Student services and success planning
This session will introduce you to Ara’s key support teams — Student Support, Learning Services, and Disability Services — and show you how they can help you plan for success.
This session will introduce you to Ara’s key support teams — Student Support, Learning Services, and Disability Services — and show you how they can help you plan for success.
12:00pm
General
Kai and Korero
12:30pm
General
Find your starting point
Keen to study but not sure how to begin? This session breaks down Ara’s open-entry and easy academic entry requirement programmes and shows you where they can take you - from starting out to future career pathways.
Keen to study but not sure how to begin? This session breaks down Ara’s open-entry and easy academic entry requirement programmes and shows you where they can take you - from starting out to future career pathways.
Academic
Outdoor Ed info session
1:00pm
General
How to apply workshop
This workshop walks you through the full application process - from hitting “apply” to what happens behind the scenes, plus how to make sure your place at Ara is confirmed.
This workshop walks you through the full application process - from hitting “apply” to what happens behind the scenes, plus how to make sure your place at Ara is confirmed.
Get Ready
Scholarships workshop
Discover the scholarships you can apply for at Ara and get practical tips on how to write a strong application that gives you the best chance at extra study funding.
Discover the scholarships you can apply for at Ara and get practical tips on how to write a strong application that gives you the best chance at extra study funding.
Academic
Architecture info session
Academic
Health study options starting soon workshop
1:30pm
General
Student life hacks
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Get Set
Campus tour
2:00pm
Event wraps up
Thursday 4 December
10:00am
General
How to apply workshop (15-20 mins)
This workshop walks you through the full application process - from hitting “apply” to what happens behind the scenes, plus how to make sure your place at Ara is confirmed.
This workshop walks you through the full application process - from hitting “apply” to what happens behind the scenes, plus how to make sure your place at Ara is confirmed.
Academic
Art & Design portfolio preapproval (1.5hr)
10:30am
General
Student life hacks
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Get Set
Campus tour
Academic
Art & Design tour (20 mins per tour)
11:00am
General
Student life hacks
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Get Set
Ara Māori
Discover the support available to you as a Māori learner and meet the Māori learning advisors and student support advisors who will be alongside you throughout your time at Ara.
Discover the support available to you as a Māori learner and meet the Māori learning advisors and student support advisors who will be alongside you throughout your time at Ara.
Academic
Art & Design tour (20 mins per tour)
11:30am
Get Set
Campus tour
Academic
Student services and success planning
This session will introduce you to Ara’s key support teams — Student Support, Learning Services, and Disability Services — and show you how they can help you plan for success.
This session will introduce you to Ara’s key support teams — Student Support, Learning Services, and Disability Services — and show you how they can help you plan for success.
12:00pm
General
Kai and Korero
12:30pm
General
Find your starting point
Keen to study but not sure how to begin? This session breaks down Ara’s open-entry and easy academic entry requirement programmes and shows you where they can take you - from starting out to future career pathways.
Keen to study but not sure how to begin? This session breaks down Ara’s open-entry and easy academic entry requirement programmes and shows you where they can take you - from starting out to future career pathways.
1:00pm
General
How to apply workshop
This workshop walks you through the full application process - from hitting “apply” to what happens behind the scenes, plus how to make sure your place at Ara is confirmed.
This workshop walks you through the full application process - from hitting “apply” to what happens behind the scenes, plus how to make sure your place at Ara is confirmed.
Get Ready
Scholarships workshop
Discover the scholarships you can apply for at Ara and get practical tips on how to write a strong application that gives you the best chance at extra study funding.
Discover the scholarships you can apply for at Ara and get practical tips on how to write a strong application that gives you the best chance at extra study funding.
Academic
Health study options starting soon workshop
1:30pm
General
Student life hacks
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Get Set
Campus tour
2:00pm
Event wraps up
Woolston campus schedule
Tuesday 2 December
10:00am
General
Find your starting point
Keen to study but not sure how to begin? This session breaks down Ara's open-entry and easy academic entry requirement programmes and shows you where they can take you - from starting out to future career pathways.
Keen to study but not sure how to begin? This session breaks down Ara's open-entry and easy academic entry requirement programmes and shows you where they can take you - from starting out to future career pathways.
Academic
Painting and Decorating workshop
10:30am
Get Set
Campus tour
11:00am
General
Student life hacks
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Academic
Wood based Trades tour and talk
11:30am
Academic
Student services and success planning
This session will introduce you to Ara's key support teams — Student Support, Learning Services, and Disability Services — and show you how they can help you plan for success.
This session will introduce you to Ara's key support teams — Student Support, Learning Services, and Disability Services — and show you how they can help you plan for success.
Get Set
Campus tour
Academic
Electrical tour and talk
12:30pm
General
How to apply workshop
This workshop walks you through the full application process - from hitting "apply" to what happens behind the scenes, plus how to make sure your place at Ara is confirmed.
This workshop walks you through the full application process - from hitting "apply" to what happens behind the scenes, plus how to make sure your place at Ara is confirmed.
1:00pm
General
Student life hacks
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Get Set
Campus tour
1:30pm
Academic
Metal based Trades tour and talk
2:00pm
Event wraps up
Timaru campus schedule
Wednesday 10 December
3:00pm
Get Set
Campus tour - Metal based Trades tour and talk
Academic
Find your starting point
Keen to study but not sure how to begin? This session breaks down Ara's open-entry and easy academic entry requirement programmes and shows you where they can take you - from starting out to future career pathways.
Keen to study but not sure how to begin? This session breaks down Ara's open-entry and easy academic entry requirement programmes and shows you where they can take you - from starting out to future career pathways.
3:30pm
Get Ready
Scholarships workshop
Discover the scholarships you can apply for at Ara and get practical tips on how to write a strong application that gives you the best chance at extra study funding.
Discover the scholarships you can apply for at Ara and get practical tips on how to write a strong application that gives you the best chance at extra study funding.
General
How to apply workshop
This workshop walks you through the full application process - from hitting “apply” to what happens behind the scenes, plus how to make sure your place at Ara is confirmed.
This workshop walks you through the full application process - from hitting “apply” to what happens behind the scenes, plus how to make sure your place at Ara is confirmed.
4:00pm
Get Set
Campus tour - Hair & Beauty | Wood based Trades tour and talk
General
Student life hacks
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
Created by students, for students, this session covers everything our learners wish they knew on day one - from the best student freebies and discounts to flatting tips and how to set yourself up for study success.
4:30pm
Get Set
Campus tour - Food and Hosp | Early Childhood info session
Academic
Student services and success planning
This session will introduce you to Ara's key support teams — Student Support, Learning Services, and Disability Services — and show you how they can help you plan for success.
This session will introduce you to Ara's key support teams — Student Support, Learning Services, and Disability Services — and show you how they can help you plan for success.
5:00pm
Get Ready
Scholarships workshop
Discover the scholarships you can apply for at Ara and get practical tips on how to write a strong application that gives you the best chance at extra study funding.
Discover the scholarships you can apply for at Ara and get practical tips on how to write a strong application that gives you the best chance at extra study funding.
Get Set
Campus tour - Health | Art & Design Info Session
General
How to apply workshop
This workshop walks you through the full application process - from hitting “apply” to what happens behind the scenes, plus how to make sure your place at Ara is confirmed.
This workshop walks you through the full application process - from hitting “apply” to what happens behind the scenes, plus how to make sure your place at Ara is confirmed.
5:30pm
Get Set
Ara Māori
Discover the support available to you as a Māori learner and meet the Māori learning advisors and student support advisors who will be alongside you throughout your time at Ara.
Discover the support available to you as a Māori learner and meet the Māori learning advisors and student support advisors who will be alongside you throughout your time at Ara.
Get Set
Ara Pacific
Come along to the Pacific workshop to meet our Pacific staff and learn about the support available through Pacific Student Support, Learning Services, the Pacific Success team, and PISA - our student-led Pacific community. We’ll also introduce you to Pacific Trades Training (PTT), a programme that blends trades training with cultural identity, mentorship and a strong sense of community.
Come along to the Pacific workshop to meet our Pacific staff and learn about the support available through Pacific Student Support, Learning Services, the Pacific Success team, and PISA - our student-led Pacific community. We’ll also introduce you to Pacific Trades Training (PTT), a programme that blends trades training with cultural identity, mentorship and a strong sense of community.
Get Ready
Scholarships workshop
Discover the scholarships you can apply for at Ara and get practical tips on how to write a strong application that gives you the best chance at extra study funding.
Discover the scholarships you can apply for at Ara and get practical tips on how to write a strong application that gives you the best chance at extra study funding.
6:00pm
Event wraps up
Key Details
Location
Ara – City, Woolston & Timaru campuses
Time
02 Dec 2025 10:00am - 02:00pm
03 Dec 2025 10:00am - 02:00pm
04 Dec 2025 10:00am - 02:00pm
10 Dec 2025 03:00pm - 08:00am
0800242476
Email us